Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
03/12/2019 02:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB71 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 71-STATE PERSONNEL ACT: VETERANS' EXPERIENCE
2:05:57 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 71, "An Act relating to hiring for positions in
state service based on substitution of military work experience
or training for required civilian work experience or training."
2:07:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, paraphrased
from a Sponsor Statement [Included in members' packets], which
read:
Members of the military bravely serve our nation and
protect our nation's values around the world. The
rigors of the battlefield can be immense, yet the
transition back to civilian life often proves to be
another battle. In a 2012 survey, two-thirds of
veterans named finding a job as the greatest challenge
in transition from military to civilian life.
House Bill [71] attempts to ease this transition by
allowing veterans, former prisoners of war or members
of the national guard to substitute documented
military experience for published minimum
qualifications for state classified positions.
Numerous states, including Alaska, provide veterans
hiring benefits and employment preferences; House Bill
[71] would provide additional support to our veterans
by allowing their previous military work experience to
carry over into the civilian world.
Allowing the use of military experience for state job
qualifications is currently allowed in Alaska's
personnel policy. House Bill [71] would enshrine this
current practice into law, ensuring those who have
sacrificed for our nation will have better access to
employment irrespective of changes in administrations.
I appreciate your consideration of this legislation
and ask for your support in its passage.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY shared her background serving on the school
board, noting that, although policies could change from
administration to administration, statutes remained in place
through these transitions.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON asked for clarification whether the
discussion was for proposed bill HB 71, as the sponsor statement
referenced HB 76 and HB 165.
2:09:41 PM
GREG SMITH, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State
Legislature, in response to Representative Thompson,
acknowledged that an incorrect version of the sponsor statement
had been sent to committee members, and he offered his belief
that a correct version had since been sent. He clarified that
the discussion was for proposed HB 71.
2:10:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON referenced previous legislation that
military experience and professional certifications were carried
over to civilian positions. He pointed out that this had also
included certification for military spouses. He asked how the
proposed bill related to this previous legislation.
2:11:04 PM
MR. SMITH explained that the previous legislation covered other
benefits and preferences by the state to veterans in transition
to civilian life. He stated that the proposed bill was "another
tool" to help with veterans' employment.
2:11:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON asked if there was a specified time frame
for a transfer of credits.
MR. SMITH offered his belief that experience gained during
internships, volunteerism, and work allowed an applicant to meet
minimum qualifications. He offered his understanding that the
hiring policy allowed "a bit of back and forth" to an applicant
for the relevancy of experience, and not to a time period.
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, offering an example of a quartermaster
in military service, asked whether this experience would include
older military personnel and would not have a time limit.
MR. SMITH offered his understanding that this was correct.
2:14:21 PM
PAM DAY, Manager, Classification Services, Division of Personnel
and Labor Relations, Department of Administration, expressed her
agreement that this was correct that "it doesn't matter how old
the experience is, we still will qualify and look at it. We're
mainly looking for the relevance of the experience towards the
minimum qualifications of the job."
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON asked if this included state government
positions.
[MS. DAY indicated her agreement.]
2:15:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER referenced the supporting document
[Included in members' packets] from the National Conference of
State Legislatures, dated October 18, 2013, and asked about the
point system and the matriculation of points toward education in
other states.
MS. DAY replied that she was not familiar with this system.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if the State of Alaska had a point
system for veterans' preference.
MS. DAY asked if he was referencing veterans' preference.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said that he was "talking about
preference anywhere in the State of Alaska. I'm sure there's a
point system if you're filling out an application, depending on
what type of category you fall into, may determine how many
points advantage you have at a particular job." He asked for an
explanation.
2:16:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP explained that Alaska statute did allow for
a veterans' preference, opining that 10 points, or 10 percent of
total allowable points on an application, were given for
disabled veterans. He offered his belief that there was also a
5 percent veterans' preference. He stated that Alaska had long
supported veterans' preference in many job classes, and that it
was dependent on the class of disability.
2:17:53 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX asked if the proposed bill had been introduced in a
previous legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY offered a history of the proposed bill.
She reported that the representative from her district in the
previous legislature had introduced this bill and, although it
had passed unanimously in the House, it was not passed through
the Senate. The prior representative had asked her to
"champion" the bill and bring it "through to fruition." She
expressed her agreement to the importance of the proposed bill.
CHAIR LEDOUX expressed her agreement that the proposed bill had
seemed "so familiar."
2:19:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated that all veterans' issues were a "no
brainer." He directed attention to the "Education Credits for
Military Training" handout [Included in members' packets],
noting that it had taken three legislatures before House Bill 2
was passed, even though it was sent to the Senate each year. He
questioned why the veterans' hiring preference was mandated for
state employees but not required for private employers.
2:20:37 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony.
2:20:59 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony.
2:21:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her appreciation to the veterans
and their service to the State of Alaska, and she emphasized
that Alaska should, in statute, give them preference for their
military service.
2:21:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK acknowledged that there had been prior
legislation concerning the application of military training for
college degrees and apprenticeship programs. He acknowledged
the difficulty for implementation of this "to the fullest extent
possible." He offered his belief that there had been earlier
proposed legislation which had insured that the Department of
Commerce, Community & Economic Development would transition to
make the law effective for previous experience to be credited.
He asked that the committee continue to push for the use of
veterans' experience in job applications.
2:23:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP added that this was a piece of legislation
to protect military families as many spouses were both veterans.
When one spouse retired, while the other remained in active
military, the civilian spouse would often have difficulty
finding a job as their work experience was just military. He
noted that this could put a strain on the relationship. He
declared that the proposed bill would help military families.
2:24:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON offered her appreciation for the proposed
bill and opined that it would "open a door for community
businesses to get involved and do more hiring, as well."
2:24:40 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX said that proposed HB 71 would be held over until
the next committee meeting on Thursday [March 14] and she asked
that any proposed amendments be sent to her office by 5:00 p.m.
tomorrow [Wednesday, March 13].
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB071 ver A 3.5.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/12/2019 2:00:00 PM |
HB 71 |
| HB071 Sponsor Statement v3 3.6.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/12/2019 2:00:00 PM |
HB 71 |
| HB071 Leg Research report military training 3.5.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/12/2019 2:00:00 PM |
HB 71 |
| HB071 NCSL veterans' state hiring preference 3.5.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/12/2019 2:00:00 PM |
HB 71 |